About

$13,608

pledged of $12,500 goal

126

backers

Ever since I was a young boy, the music in my head has never stopped. I am constantly "hearing" melodies, lyrics or just plain old great song concept ideas. Songwriters don't really know where the ideas come from, we just feel blessed to receive them and it's our great privilege to complete the songs with the craft we have refined through the decades and share the music with the rest of the world. Often times the songs are meant for someone we might not ever meet and may have a positive impact their life so it's vital that we deliver the goods!

As my songwriting buddy Michael McLean puts it, "we don't really own these songs, we just get to hear them first. Makes sense to me! Well I have 10 more songs that I feel really great about written by me and or with my long time writing and fishing buddy, Michael McLean.

The songs are well into the recording process and with your help and support, the record should be done in another month. I have been recording now for over six months and wrote all of the songs in the last 18 months. I am very pleased with the way it is coming out. All my lead vocals and guitars are done first and normally, I recruit other great musicians/singers to be a part of this album but not this time. I wanted to do a record where I played and sang all the parts as well as write the songs, produce and engineer and lastly mix the record. I loved Paul McCartney's first solo record in 1970 where he pretty much did the same so as I approach age 65, I figured now was the time.

For the last month I have mixed, remixed and continue to remix these songs until the tracks are as good as they can be! I hope to raise enough funds to give the record proper respect and hire a radio promotions expert and PR team.

Please be a part of the continuing musical journey I am so honored to have been on since I was a teenager. Thank you all in advance for supporting indie music. There are many great artists out there that many of you have never heard of, but just because they are not famous doesn't mean they are not great!!

Risks and challenges

My musical journey began in 1970 when Mark Rodney signed a record deal with Atlantic Records as the duo Batdorf and Rodney. My musical career has taken me to many exciting places including Carnegie Hall all the way to The Oscars singing with Adele.

In 2004, I started writing and recording new music as an artist again because the internet and satellite radio had opened up a whole new medium that I could be a part of so I went back to my roots.

Being an unsigned Indie artist certainly has it's advantages. For one, when my record sells, I actually get the money!! Woo Hoo!!!! I also get to produce a record just the way I want which wasn't always the case when major labels had all the control.

As great as that is, the challenge is finding a way to fund the project. The $12,500.00 I am trying to raise will only help, not fully fund the record project. For example: recording / mastering ( $2500.00 even with my own studio), manufacturing the record ($2000.00), artwork ($1000.00) radio promotion ($400.00 a week for 16 weeks $6400.00), hiring a publicist ($1500.00 a month for three months $4500.00) and on and on. That's what we are up against and why the crowd funding format is so great for artists like myself. If we are able to get our loyal fan base and more to help make the record successful, we all win.

As long as I am inspired and I have fans to want me to continue making new records and tour, I will honor that commitment and thank all of you for supporting my 46 years of music bliss!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $75 or more
About $75

Two Autographed CDs

$75.00 will get you one personally autographed copy of my new CD plus an autographed Batdorf and Rodney "Portfolio" double CD set featuring the three B&R albums plus many bonus tracks including three previously unreleased demos from 1973.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

Associate Producer Credit

Ever wanted to have your name on the back of one of your favorite artist's CDs? Now is your chance. For $500.00. You will be listed in the credits as an associate producer for all your friends and family to see. You will also receive three personally autographed CDs. Grammy anyone?

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

Associate Producer Credit

Ever wanted to have your name associated with one of your favorite artist's CDs? Now is your chance. For $500.00. You will be listed in the credits as an associate producer on the website for all your friends and family to see. You will also receive three personally autographed CDs. Grammy anyone?

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $2,500 or more
About $2,500

House Concert/Executive Producer Credit

Twenty-five hundred gets you your very own house concert and a CD for all your guests and 2 autographed CDs for you plus an Exectutive Producer Credit. The month of the show will be determined by the pledger. US Only. If there is a pledge after Friday Feb.24 at noon PST, the credit will appear only on the website.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $3,500 or more
About $3,500

Let Me Demo Your Own Original Song

I will demo your song with me playing guitar and singing lead and harmonies just like I do on my records here in my studio. You will also get an autographed CD. This will take place between April and July.